Dear Friends & Church Family, Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Through tear-filled eyes and yet, with great faith, I write to follow up with you, after sharing a significant shift in my family's life and the life of our church body. As of this week, we have begun a transition journey out of the Lead Pastor role of Life Center and into an Executive Pastor role at City Bible Church alongside Pastor Frank Damazio. Pastor Frank has been our pastor for over 20 years. Michal and I worked with him before being sent out as a church plant to this area in 1997. We have been discussing this for about two years, and its only been in the past year that we began to feel a definite YES in our spirit that this is what God had in mind. Over the course of these two years, we determined that God is asking us to make this transition because He has need of us in another field. The word that the Lord gave us was Matthew 212-3 "'Go into the village over there,' he said. 'As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately let you take them.'" Strangely enough, we feel that we are the "donkey & colt" which is being untied and brought to the Lord for His service. This past Sunday, I led the church on a journey through Acts 16, considering how Paul did three things throughout his ministry life: 1. He PLANNED, in subjection to God's will 2. He LEANED into those plans, but was wiling to be redirected 3. He STEPPED through open doors when He was convinced it was God's will For Paul, his life was solely the enlargement of the Kingdom of God and He worked these simple MOMENTUM steps because they work - in life, in the church, in business, and in finding God's call & purpose. You are welcome to go online and listen to the announcement and message at http://www.yourlifecenter.com/media.php?pageid=4 In the same manner, we originally PLANNED to come to Lewis County and live out all of our days. We bought property, had a family, and raised up a church. As God began to speak to us about an adjustment to our plans, we did not want to respond. But after many months, we felt we needed to LEAN into His leading. As we did, it seemed that He continued to confirm His will. Eventually we knew we had to STEP forward and walk through the door. Taking the step & beginning the process of being untied, as the donkey was untied, is not easy. The past few months have been full of grieving, processing, and a lot of talking for Michal and I. Daily we concluded that this is part of the process and it's what the Lord is asking of us. Never before have we even considered an alternate plan for
our lives. We have given our full selves to this region. We have asked the church follow us and our manner of life (2 Timothy 3:10), our doctrine (2 Timothy 3:10), and to follow us as we follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). And hundreds have been a faithful in responding to our leadership. Together, we have seen God do the impossible. I revel in all that God has done. At the same time, I know that this is God's will and purpose. I am also convinced that if God is asking this of me and my family, that He also has the BEST for the church in mind. I also know that from Paul's pattern in scripture, turning the church over to someone else does not mean that I will not continue to be the poppa and return to the house frequently. Paul regularly returned to the houses He planted as a father, a mentor, and one who strengthened the disciples. And Michal and I will do the same. This process will unfold over the coming months. The elders are unified in prayer, focus and faith about this journey, and we ask you to do the same. Over the next two weeks, we will settle on a direction for a successor, and we will announce who it is then. I have attached the handout we distributed Sunday for those who wish to read and understand more about this process. The elders are available for questions or comments. Please feel free to email any questions to office@yourlifecenter.com and someone will either respond in writing, or by phone. We will also be answering certain questions during Sunday gatherings from time to time. These 15+ years have been a ride! Without a doubt, God has been involved in the journey. With the same conviction we started with, we will start another volume of life and ministry. The future is bright for the Corbins and for Life Center. The vision and values of the house are strong, and the team which the Lord has assembled will carry on all that God has said to this people. Please notice that there is a transition plan in the following pages of this document, for your reference. Continuing to go the distance, Derrill & Michal Corbin Lead Pastors Life Center T: 360.736.5898 www.yourlifecenter.com PO Box 957 Centralia, WA 98531 USA
Life Center Lead Pastor Transition Strategy With both great joy and sorrow, we embark on a journey of transition wherein we will send our Lead Pastors, the founders of our church, on to another task and dimension of responsibility in the Kingdom of God to be an Executive Pastor at City Bible Church in Portland, OR. Over the past five years, Derrill & Michal have felt stirring, a growing sense of leading, and the deep wooing of the Holy Spirit. Always falling back on their original plan to live in Lewis County their whole life, they continually suppressed the sense of leading. After many times of prayer & fasting, consultation with various leaders and the Life Center elders, they are now responding to a definite call from God. This will of course, lead them into a new dimension of relationship with Life Center as a poppa, overseer, and apostolic oversight of the house. Transition was a regular part of the New Testament model of church-life and it continues at the Lord s beckoning in today s church: Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. 1 Corinthians 3:10 NLT One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them. So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:2-4a WHAT THIS TRANSITION IS: 1. This is a response to a call of God upon our lead pastors into another realm of ministry and Kingdom influence Many offers have come to the Corbins over the years for other jobs, churches, & unique opportunities. But the vision of the Lord for Lewis County overrode those moments. However, something sovereign began to brew over these last five years. In the end, we determined that God had need of their strengths in another field for this particular season. Uniquely enough, Life Center, as their sending church, will be able to partake of the influence that the Corbins will have in their new sphere. 2. This is the beginning of a transition process New Testament leadership succession, similar to Paul leaving one church to go to another city, is often different than many are familiar with. Derrill will lead this process, and with the elders help, will work towards a succession that continues vision in as seamless of manner as possible. 3. This is continuation of the original vision of Life Center into a new volume of history Allowing plateau or limitation to cap this house would not be an effective witness to the generational transfer God models in His Word. To shift the vision or focus of the house would likewise not model God s intention for perpetuating His purpose from one age to the next. Life Center MUST contend for vibrant worship, congregational unity, passionate prayer, generations, Holy Spirit presence, five-fold ministry, apostolic influence in the region through campus expansion, and international ministry in Ireland and East Africa... and yes, even beyond. If God is leading us to send Derrill & Michal into a different realm of placement, then He is, without a doubt, going to do something great for Life Center. WHAT TRANSITION LOOKS LIKE: 1. Pastor Derrill & Michal met with each elder individually and discussed this decision
2. The elders committed to unified prayer and fasting Life Center is not a democracy - it is a theocracy. This simply means that the church is governed by Christ and that He appoints those who would lead the flock. Because Jesus is in charge, the elders began to confess that He has, and will continue to work through leaders and the people of God to establish His purpose in the earth. This time of prayer for us all has helped us surrender to His leading, and not our own desires. 3. Bill Scheidler came to Centralia this past week for two days and helped the elders set the transition course Bill has been an apostle to this work from its founding. His 35+ years of experience in church leadership and pastoral transition have proven invaluable. He met with each elder couple, and then the whole team at once. This counsel has helped us chart the course for a successful transition. 4. The congregation is now being informed and we are asking the entire body to rally together in unity We must purpose not to allow the enemy to divide or bring harm to people or to mar the vision to establish Christ s rule in Lewis County. Rather, the elders are asking that the church step forward by faith into this transition, believing that God has good in mind for us all. 5. It is the founding pastor s responsibility to nominate a replacement for himself Much like Paul placed Timothy and other sons into churches he planted, Derrill is responsible to do the same. The founder initiates the replacement, and the elders confirm the choice after prayerful discussion. 6. A six-month plan of further developing the successor and placing him before the church will ensue Once the elders ratify a successor, they will set them in as an associate pastor to Derrill and begin the process of three things: observing & learning all aspects of the church, beginning to take responsibility step by step, and eventually fully taking the reigns. At every step, Derrill will be serving as lead pastor and be a coach to the successor. Towards the end of the transition, the membership will have the opportunity to formally receive and confirm the new lead pastor. Hands would then be laid upon them and they would assume the lead pastor role. Derrill will remain on the eldership for at least a year, feed the flock from time to time, and part of all major decisions. This is all part of the legal and spiritual journey modeled to us in scripture and is also laid out in our church constitution. IMPORTANT APSECTS OF TRANSITION: 1. Sustaining Momentum Together We will pray Kingdom-minded prayers that are full of faith & expectation prayers that focus on the transfer of mantle from one leader to another, the continuance of vision & direction for this house, and the perpetuation of all that God has done among us We will pray for our Eldership We will continue to read, study & Life Journal together We will pray for the next volume of life and ministry in our church We will pray for our founding pastors, Derrill & Michal and kids We will pray for successors who will shepherd & lead this people 2. Preparing for New Leadership We will lift up the hope & vitality of our church We will rally to the cause of Christ by stepping into ministry, not out of ministry we are co-builders of Christ s church We will receive new leadership and allow them grace, time, and support in order to get established 3. Preparing for a Healthy Transition Time between Pastor Derrill & the New Lead Pastor The vision, initiatives, and ministries of the church will not stop, but will continue strong After a period of deep consideration on the part of the eldership, they will set a New Lead Pastor before the church as an Associate Pastor. This may happen within two weeks time.
All questions, from any person in the church can be forwarded anytime to any elder we are happy to talk! The Associate Pastor will begin taking on leadership responsibility in stages of 30, 60 & 90 days The transition may take as much as six months in which Derrill & Michal will continue to serve as Lead Pastors We will officially install our the New Lead Pastor and shift Pastor Derrill s role in the church from lead pastor to Founding Pastor 4. Preparing to transition Derrill & Michal into their new place of spiritual assignment We will assist Pastor Derrill & Michal in finishing strong We will celebrate Derrill & Michal s ministry and our years of walking together with them We will outwardly mourn our inner grief in a way that leads to hope & healing We will send Derrill & Michal forward with honor for their years of ministry here Derrill & Michal will serve as an Executive Pastor at City Bible Church in Portland, OR and continue as Apostolic Leaders in Ministers Fellowship International. In that role, Derrill will oversee the Mill Plain Campus of CBC, be involved in Portland Bible College, write church & leadership materials, and assist churches & teams as needed Derrill & Michal will be moving to the Vancouver, WA area in the summer, 2013 THE CORBIN S PERSONAL COMMITMENT: 1. We are committed to following the Lord and His calling 2. We are committed to the wellbeing of our marriage and our three kids 3. We are committed to unity among our friends, our eldership, and the our church family 4. We are committed to each member of the church finding his/her place of ministry in the call of God 5. We are committed to vibrant, forward-thinking, apostolic ministry in Lewis County 6. We are committed to walk with this house all the days of our lives while our role in the house is changing, the God-breathed vision for this place still burns in our heart. We will continue to give ourselves to fan it into flame and see it continue to come to reality.